Opel Manta A

The Manta A was initially offered with three different CIH engines with an overhead camshaft: two 1.6-liter variants with 68 PS (50 kW) and 80 PS (59 kW) as well as the 1.9-liter version taken over from the Rekord C. -Version with 90 PS (66 kW). In 1972 a 1.2-liter engine with a side camshaft was added from the Kadett with 60 hp (44 kW).

When the last Manta B rolled off the production line in August 1988, its technology with the rigid axle ( central articulated axle ) from the 1967 Kadett B and the CIH engines produced since 1965 was outdated, although in the last few years it was already equipped with an unregulated catalytic converter and 5 -Gear transmission was fitted. The Manta was a success for Opel: A total of 1,056,436 cars were built from both model series.

At the end of the 1960s, Opel developed a competing model for the Ford Capri introduced at the end of 1968 under the working title “Project 1450” . This resulted in the Manta Coupé presented in Timmendorfer Strand in September 1970 , the limousine version of which Ascona was presented two months later in Turin (Italy) in November 1970. 

Ford began the era of the " pony cars " with the Ford Mustang in the USA : These are coupés or convertibles based on a (by American standards) compact and light mid-range vehicle that was equipped with a relatively powerful engine and therefore corresponding performance (especially Acceleration values).

The compact and elegant Mustang on the platform of the Falcon was very successful after its introduction in the USA in spring 1964. Ford wanted to repeat this success in Europe and developed a coupé based on the British Ford Cortina with the name Capri , which also sold well from the beginning of 1969.

General Motors did not stand idly by the success of the Mustang and Capri , and so the Chevrolet Camaro, presented in autumn 1966, was designed as an answer to the Ford Mustang, while Opel's Manta was aimed at the Capri.

In autumn 1962, a model of received Chevrolet Corvette named Stingray ( Stingray ). Accordingly, the manta ray presumably gave its name to the Opel Manta . In fact, the person in charge of the in-plant project "longnose coupe" designer was George Gallion  inspiration from video footage and photos that Jacques Cousteau in the Red Sea by a manta rays had made. 

As the video recordings by Cousteau made clear, the animals were very fast with their bird-like movement in the water and the flapping of their wings appeared powerful and harmonious. The name philosophy was therefore also reflected in the Opel press release: “Finally his name appeared: Manta - the winged ray. The characteristics of this marine animal were seen as an illustration of the task of this Opel model in the automotive market. You expect a lot from the Manta, the automobile, as always when Germany's second largest automobile manufacturer introduces a new car! "

And this naming philosophy could also be read again and again in the brochures. Therefore, many manta rays were given a small manta emblem on the front fenders. With the choice of a name and extensive advertising work, Opel had done popular education at the same time: the rays had become popular.

Right from the start, Opel advertising tried to stylize the Manta, which is technically strongly based on the Ascona sedan, into a sporty men's car.The shape with the low belt line, a long bonnet and short rear gave the Manta a sporty look. The car thus followed the trend towards the end of the 1960s:

• Sporty vehicles with higher performance and corresponding driving behavior.

• Cars with greater comfort for the driver and passenger.

• Individual shape that stood out from other vehicles.

Renault and Fiat in particular had sporty models on offer before, but the Abarth or Gordini versions for the mass market had no independent bodies, only more powerful engines: only with the Renault Floride, the Fiat 850 Coupé and the Simca 1200 S Coupé also offered independent bodies, a path that Ford followed with the Capri and Opel with the Manta. Initially, the Manta was presented in advertisements with the slogan “Manta - developed from the European automotive tradition”. Later with: “Opel Manta. Because you know something about driving, or because you know something about driving "and" Opel Manta. If ordinary cars are too boring for you. " 

The target group consisted primarily of young people. With the initially three engines, Opel offered an alternative to the traditionally designed models such as the Rekord or the Ascona .

The rather weak engines (especially the  car with the 44 kW (60 hp) 1.2-liter engine of the Kadett B . Various tuners tried to change this by installing six-cylinder engines from the larger Opel models or with turbochargers. Only the Manta GT / E with 77 kW (105 PS) offered from spring 1974 was well motorized in the eyes of some car testers.

PERFORMANCE:
1.2L
max speed: 90 mph, 145 km/h
max power (DIN): 60 hp at 5,400 rpm
max torque (DIN): 65 1b ft. 9 kg m at 3,000-3,800 rpm
max engine rpm: 6,000; 50.2 hp/l
power weight ratio: Manta 34.2 lb/hp, 15,5 kg/hp - Manta L 34.7 lb/hp, 15.7 kg/hp
fuel consumption: 33.6 m/imp gal, 28 m/US gal

The Manta A had a self-supporting steel body with flexible rear and front sections. From September 1970 the versions Manta, Manta L and Manta SR were available.The front wheels were individually suspended on wishbones of unequal length with coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and torsion bar stabilizers .

The rear axle was a rigid drawbar axle with coil springs , trailing arms and Panhard rods, as in the Kadett B from 1967. Opel also referred to it as the central articulated axle . The rear part of the cardan shaft from the cardan joint was guided in a longitudinally movable support tube that was rigidly connected to the housing of the differential gear.

In the Manta A, a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox with a short gear stick was installed on the center console, which was referred to in advertising as a sports gearshift.

The Opel Manta was delivered in all versions as a five-seater sports coupé. Particularly striking were the elongated, front-hinged bonnet and the rear section with four round taillights, the wide doors with frameless windows and the black radiator grille with four round headlights. While the Manta and Manta L were still delivered with hubcaps, the Manta SR had steel sports bikes with no hubcaps as standard. The occupants of the Manta sat in a safety cell with a shock-absorbing safety steering column. The seats were strong and comfortable. A vinyl roof was available for a surcharge, but this promoted corrosion as moisture collected under the glued PVC film.

From January 1, 1976, the gasoline lead law required fuel with a lower lead content. Opel then adapted its engines to the legal requirements. The performance of the 1.6-liter N was reduced from 50 kW (68 PS) to 44 kW (60 PS), and the 1.6-liter S from 59 kW (80 PS) to 55 kW (75 PS) , and the 1.9-liter engine had only 65 kW (88 hp) instead of 66 kW (90 hp). The 1.2-liter engine with 44 kW (60 hp) remained unchanged. From June 1975, however, the output of the 1.9 liter engine with the Zenith INAT 35/40 downdraft register carburetor was increased again to 66 kW (90 hp). A total of 498,553 pieces of the Manta A were produced. 

• 1.6L
  max power (DIN): 68 hp at 5,200 rpm
  max torque (DIN): 80 1b ft, 11 kg m at 3,400 rpm 42.9 hp/l
  max speed: 96 mph, 154 km/h
  power weight ratio: 30.2 lb/hp, 13.7 kg/hp
  fuel consumption: 31.4 imp gal, 26.1 m/US gal
• 1.9L
  max speed: 102 mph, 164 km/h
  power- weight ratio: Manta SR 26.7 lb/hp, 12.1 kg/hp - Manta Berlinetta 26.5 lb/hp, 12 kg/hp
  fuel consumption: 33.2 m/ imp gal, 27.7 m/US gal, Manta SR 32.1 m/imp gal, 26.7 m/US gal
  max power (DIN): 90 hp at 5,100 rpm
  max torque (DIN): 108 1b ft 14.9 kg m at rpm; 47.4 hp/l

Manta L 

In the Manta L, the L stood for luxury. The L equipment includes chrome-plated fittings, glove box, engine compartment and trunk lights, pivoting windows for the passengers on the back seat bench, wheel trim rings, an electric clock, various dashboard lights, ashtrays, cigarette lighter, safety interior mirrors, chrome-plated tailpipes and more.

The engine selection included the above with manual and automatic transmission (for the 1.2-liter S engine there was only the manual transmission).

Manta SR 

The Manta SR was the rally version of the Manta L for sporty customers. It differs from the other versions in that it has other wheels with wider rims (5 1/2 J × 13) and low-profile radial tires, a matt black bonnet and black side stripes (rally stripes). The instrumentation includes a tachometer and an additional console with clock, ammeter and oil pressure gauge; the SR's passenger sun visor does not have a make-up mirror. The SR was only offered with 80 HP (59 kW) and 90 HP (66 kW) engines, with the latter having a shorter overall ratio leading to improved acceleration values ​​and increased mountaineering ability; the automatic transmission was not offered for the SR equipment.

Manta GT / E 

In March 1974 the Manta GT / E supplemented the model series. Its 1.9-liter engine developed 77 kW (105 PS) thanks to electronically controlled intake manifold injection (Bosch L-Jetronic ), which gave the GT / E a top speed of 188 km / h (according to factory specifications). Compared to the Manta SR, the GT / E has wider black side stripes, black window frames that cannot be seen in the photo below, special GT / E logos, a front spoiler and a slightly lowered body. Because it took only one year to build, only 5252 units of the GT / E were sold  the last copies ran as Manta Black Magic with black paint and yellow / red stripes on the front spoiler and side line from the belt.

• PERFORMANCE: 1.9 injection
• max power (DIN): 105 hp at 5,400 rpm
• max torque (DIN): 112 1b ft. 15.5 kg m at 4,200 rpm; 55.3 hp/l;
• max speed: 117 mph, 188 km/h
• power. weight ratio: 20.5 lb/hp, 9.3 kg/hp
• fuel consumption: 33.2 m/ imp gal, 27.7 m/US gal

The Manta A in the United States 

From October 1970 to July 1975 Ascona and Manta were sold under the name “Opel 1900” and “Opel 1900 Sport Coupé” (model years 1971/72), from model year 1973 “Opel Manta” also in the USA. On offer were the basic model called Sport Coupe, the rally as a sporty variant and from autumn 1973 luxury with more equipment, cord fabric covers and four-spoke steel sports wheels. All models were powered by Opel's 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine which, with a compression ratio of 7.6: 1, produced 76 DIN HP (56 kW); for model year 1975 it received a Bosch injection and thus came to 82 DIN PS (60 kW). Around 170,000 of the 1900 series (Ascona and Manta) were sold in the USA.

Special Manta A 

A performance-enhanced model with the model name TE2800 was manufactured by the Belgian company Transeurope Engineering, which filed for bankruptcy in 1975, in an edition of 79 pieces by installing the 2.8-liter engine of the Commodore in the Manta. The engine developed a maximum of 105 kW (143 hp) and the vehicle reached a top speed of almost 200 km / h. The price was just under 20,000 DM. The TE was sold through the Irmscher company.

The English dealer Opel Team (DOT) developed the DOT Turbo-Manta, which was presented in 1974. Only 28 copies were built because the manufacturer of the turbocharger filed for bankruptcy. About seven have been preserved.

Opel tested a turbo version of the 1.9-liter unit based on the low-lead engine of the US Manta with 78 hp and built around 10 for test purposes. But the unsatisfactory response and the abrupt use of the turbocharger (especially dangerous in corners, as the light Manta broke out quickly) meant the end of the Turbo Manta. No street-legal Turbo Manta is known.